06.21.17
Here at Blue Engine we like to promote interesting authors and books during our #BookJacket series. And to mark the first day of summer we are keeping the tradition going by sharing some of our staff’s favorite summer reads. Whether you like a spy thriller, classic literature or timely nonfiction, our team’s picks have you covered. We hope you’ll find something to enjoy this summer.
Feel free to join in by sharing with us on social media some of your favorite summer reads using #BookJacket or by sharing this list with your favorite bookworm.
“42 Faith: The Rest of the Jackie Robinson Story” By Ed Henry – “At Blue Engine, we are looking forward to having Ed Henry at our office as a part of our #BookJacket series. This is a great read about one of America’s favorite baseball players.” – Erik Smith
“Belichick and Brady: Two Men, the Patriots, and How They Revolutionized Football” By Michael Holley – “With all the talk about ‘dominance’ coming from this White House, Michael Holley provides an insight into the actual dominance of an epic football franchise lead by arguably the greatest coach and greatest quarterback in history. If you like winning, and by that I mean not losing, this is a summer must read.” -David DiMartino
“The Mitch Rapp Series” By Vince Flynn – “Summer reading, for me, is all about an escape. An added bonus that these spy thrillers take place in and around DC and always end up with the good guys saving the world.” -Adam Abrams
“Turn Right at Machu Piccu” By Mark Adams – “I’m headed to Peru in September – checking my 6th continent off the list – and, as usual before a big trip to a new-to-me place, am consumed by reading everything I can about it. This book came highly recommended by a wide range of folks. It’s by a former New York magazine editor who decided to recreate the discovery of the ancient Incan city 100 years earlier by Yale professor and American explorer Hiram Bingham.” -Amber McDowell
“Man Made: A Memoir” By Ken Baker – “Ken is an old college friend and a great writer, and he has a crazy story to tell.” -Steve Posner
“Walk Two Moons” By Sharon Creech – “Walk Two Moons is a book I’ve enjoyed as a kid and as an adult so there’s something in the story for everyone. It is a powerful and fun story that brings out the best of your emotions. Whether you need a good laugh, cry, or to feel nostalgic, Walk Two Moons will deliver.” -Jessica Stout
“White Fur” By Jardine Libaire – “An engaging tale about two star-crossed lovers by one of the most talented writers of our time (and my good friend), Jardine Libaire.” -Jamie Horn
“Born to Run” By Bruce Springsteen – “An American icon, Bruce Springsteen has always had a way of making me feel uniquely American and proud to be so, so I was interested to learn more about the man whose songs play in the background of so many of my memories.” -Catherine Adamchak
“The American Spirit– Who We Are and What We Stand” By David McCullough – “With last year’s election highlighting a huge culture gap across the country, it’ll be especially important for us in the public affairs industry to be reminded of what unites the American public.” -Kat Maramba
“Their Eyes Were Watching God” By Zora Neale Hurston – “This book is very thought provoking and written by one of the best authors, Zora Neale Hurston.” -Irma Palmer
“The Secret History of Wonder Woman” By Jill Lepore – “Polygamy, Planned Parenthood, and feminism all feature in this true superhero origin story of a movement, a man and one of the most famous female characters in modern storytelling.” -Kris Fetterman
“The Knockoff” By Lucy Sykes – “A fun read you can finish in one day at the pool, The Knockoff is an interesting novel depicting new technology and young blood clashing with the old guard of a fashion magazine in New York City – but not in the way you might expect. In a world where the latest is always greatest, it’s a refreshing look at how tradition still has a role in the workplace, with a reminder to never stop learning and growing in the process.” -Kara Ferguson
“The Cormoran Strike Novels” By Robert Galbraith – “If you think you know J.K. Rowling, think again. She published this series of crime novels under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith that makes you feel like you’re alongside detective Cormoran Strike as he solves twisted murders.” -Carly Coakley
“Nine and Counting: The Women of the Senate” By Barbara Mikulski, Barbara Boxer, Susan Collins, Dianne Feinstein, Whitney Catherine – “This is a great read that tells the personal and professional stories of nine courageous female senators and each of their journeys to the United States Senate. Their stories are each unique and inspiring.” -Cynthia Montes
“Before the Fall” By Noah Hawley – “Noah Hawley is the mind behind the FX television series Fargo, and just like the show his novel adeptly balances thrills and emotional stakes. It’s a great beach read about a plane full of powerful people that crashes and what happens to the survivors. Hawley also has a surprisingly pointed take on the cable news environment and contemporary ideas of masculinity.” -Sam Blobaum
“My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry” By Fredrik Beckman – “Beckman weaves a beautiful tale of the loss of a grandmother through the eyes of 7-year-old Elsa. It made me laugh, cry, and everything in between.” -Gretta Schultz
“The Romanovs: 1613-1918” By Simon Sebag Montefiore – “A thrilling account of the imperial dynasty that ruled Russia for almost three hundred years. Montefiore does a masterful job of weaving a tale about politics and intrigue, making it the perfect summer read while Game of Thrones is on hiatus!” -Justin Krakoff
“Relic” By William Howell & Terry Moe – “Relic was an especially engaging read, not only for its apt diagnoses of American politics’ most pressing problems but also for its dramatic solution: altering the Constitution itself. Some of its conclusions—namely expanding the president’s authority relative to Congress—might feel like poor remedies in the age of Trump, but the book at very least remains consistently thought-provoking.” -Cole Martin